Bell: Comparing Jadeveon Clowney to Bruce Smith a disservice to both

Jadeveon Clowney has been hailed as the next Bruce Smith, among other comparisons, as he prepares to launch his NFL career as the likely first pick of the 2014 NFL draft.

But the first Bruce Smith thinks draft analysts have it all wrong.

"I like hearing my name called, but they're doing him a disservice right now," Smith, the Hall of Fame defensive end who was selected No. 1 overall in 1985, told USA TODAY Sports.

The basic point is this: Smith played 19 seasons in the NFL and holds the league record with 200 sacks. He believes comparing Clowney to him — or to Lawrence Taylor for that matter — sets him up for a perception of failure.

Nonetheless, the bar is raised very high for Clowney, so high that he might be unfairly labeled as a bust if he doesn't perform to a Hall of Fame level.

"Obviously, we've been God-blessed with physical abilities," Smith said. "But for him, now it's a matter of what sacrifices do you need to make to have an impact in the NFL?

"He can do it. He can become a great player. But will he dedicate himself? Will he make the sacrifices, day after day, practice after practice?"

Smith expressed the same type of questions that have surrounded the defensive end from South Carolina throughout the pre-draft process.

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Still, Smith clearly understands the fuss about Clowney — and is pulling for him.

"I haven't seen someone as physically gifted as he is come into the league in a long time," he said.

Clowney (6-6, 266 pounds) has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.53 seconds.

When Smith came out of Virginia Tech, he carried 290 pounds on his 6-4 frame, and timed at 4.68 in the 40. With nearly 25 extra pounds, Smith's time was even more stunning than Clowney's mark.

Another striking contrast: While the Houston Texans have yet to reveal whether they will select Clowney with the No. 1 pick overall tonight, Smith was told by the Buffalo Bills that he was their pick two months before the draft.

"They basically told me to just prepare to be a Bill," he remembers.

The Texans, though, have kept their door open for trade offers that could fetch a blockbuster package.

If Houston chooses Clowney, the attention will quickly shift to the manner in which he is incorporated into Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense. Clowney could be positioned as an outside linebacker and indicated this week that he is willing to convert and has worked on his drops in coverage.

Even if he becomes a linebacker, though, with such a heavy emphasis on passing in the NFL that defenses typically field nickel and dime sub packages on more than 60% of the snaps, it's likely that Clowney would line up with his hand in the turf in a rush position on more than half the snaps.

Smith played in a 3-4, too, for the bulk of his career with the Bills but was nobody's linebacker. He amassed all of those sacks as a defensive end. It's rare that a defensive end excels as the featured pass-rusher in a 3-4 (think of the outside linebackers that have been the key rushers in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 3-4, for example), but Smith was exactly that (as is Clowney's potential Texans teammate, J.J. Watt).

Perhaps that's why Smith isn't thrilled with all of the talk about Clowney converting to linebacker.

"If I'm him, I don't want to be a jack-of-all-trades," Smith said. "This guy's a pass-rusher. Occasionally, you can steal a down as a linebacker, but if you're a pass-rusher you need to master that while also being a well-rounded player who is tough against the run."

Smith thinks it will be critical for Clowney to mesh quickly with his new coaches and teammates to establish a foundation for success.

After Smith joined the Bills, he was criticized as a rookie for his development. He had three coaches within his first year and points to the arrival of defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and coach Marv Levy in his second season as the turning point. He reflected on that while pondering how quickly Clowney can make an impact.

"He's the most gifted player in the draft," Smith said. "But being in the right system and having someone to properly teach him is so important, so that he can become an impact player right away. It's going to be critical for him to get the right defensive line coach so that they can mold him. And it's critical that they get to him early.

"He's got to understand that it's a different level in the NFL. If a team wants to stop you, they will design all kinds of schemes for that. So you've got to become a student of the game to counter that."

Then maybe, just maybe, comparisons to the all-time greats will carry some weight.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – Mario Williams. Before the 2006 NFL draft, Williams faced many of the questions now being asked of Clowney. Williams' production during his final college season dropped off and he didn't seem to have as big of an impact on the game. Yet, his physical skills were never in question, which led him to become the No. 1 overall pick. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

2. Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn – Trent Williams. Like Williams at Oklahoma, Robinson was bulldozing run blocker for a dynamic running back at Auburn. Whichever team drafts Robinson will hope he can turn into the pass blocker Williams has become in the NFL. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

3. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M – Joe Thomas. An offensive lineman's technique is as important as his physical ability. Thomas isn't the most athletic lineman, but he's by far the most consistent with his technique. Matthews is the most technically sound prospect in this year's draft class. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

4. Anthony Barr, LB UCLA – Aldon Smith.
Barr will be drafted on potential, and, like Smith coming out of Missouri, the UCLA Bruin has the athletic ability and physical profile (without the character questions that have dogged Smith in the NFL) to be a dominant edge rusher in a 3-4 defense. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

5. Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo – Clay Matthews. The strengths of Mack's game begin with his versatility and extend to a ferocious attitude on the field. Like Matthews, Mack can be moved all over a defense to take advantage of his natural abilities. Their combine numbers were eerily similar, too. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

6. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – Steve Smith. Watkins is a unique talent. There are not many receivers at 6-1 with return skills. Smith is four inches shorter than Watkins, but both can hurt a defense all over the field in a variety of ways and are excellent after the catch. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

7. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M – Vincent Jackson. Very few wide receivers have the size and ability to stretch a defense like Evans and Jackson can. The two are nearly identical in size (6-5, 230). They are also very physical wide receivers that use their bodies well to shield defenders, and to leap for catches. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

8. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State – Patrick Peterson.
Gilbert has the size and speed to stick with opposing receivers in man coverage. Like Peterson, Gilbert’s body control allows him to make plays on the ball and create turnovers. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

9. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina – Jermichael Finley. In the ever-evolving NFL, tight ends are often oversized wide receivers that create mismatches against the linebackers and safeties. Ebron, like Finley, is a fluid route runner that can be lined up at multiple spots in an offense. Like Finley, he is not a strong blocker. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

10. Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame – Logan Mankins. Martin will be drafted as a tackle, but his best fit in the NFL is at guard. Like Mankins, Martin will be a monster as a pulling guard leading runners through the hole in a power run system. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

11. Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt – Geno Atkins.
Very few defensive tackles can match the Donald’s production at the college level. At 6-0 and 285 pounds, Donald registered an astonishing 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. Like Donald, Atkins isn't the biggest defensive tackle, but he wins with quickness, strength and leverage. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

12. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State – Brandon Flowers. Dennard is a good cover corner who shouldn’t need much help over the top from a safety. Like Flowers with the Chiefs, Dennard will thrive in a system that allows him to play press man coverage. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

13. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan – Nate Solder. Lewan is highly athletic and impressed many with his workout at the combine. Lewan may not be a former tight end like Solder, but both are gangly linemen at nearly 6-8 with the type of length needed in a left tackle. Solder needed to work on his technique to become effective, just as Lewan will. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

14. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – Matt Ryan. Bridgewater is a smart, accurate thrower who lacks some of the ideal physical tools teams look for in a franchise QB. Like Ryan, Bridgewater gets by with smart movement in the pocket and great field vision. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

15. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama – Daryl Washington. Both Mosley and Washington are 3-4 inside linebackers who are highly instinctive, athletic and quite comfortable dropping into coverage. The concern with both is that they're only 230 pounds. It hasn't affected Washington's career, but teams will question how Mosley holds up at the next level. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

16. Louis Nix III, NT, Notre Dame – Dan Williams. Nix is a large man who will provide a 3-4 defense with an ideal nose tackle. Williams demands a double team, which is vital for a Cardinals defense that uses inside linebackers as blitzers up the middle. Nix should draw the same type of attention in the trenches. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

17. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Alabama – Eric Reid. Both Clinton-Dix and Reid are true free safeties with the ability to lock down the backend of a defense. Their final years on campus weren't as strong as their junior campaigns, but both were consistent throughout their careers playing against the run and pass. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

18. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State - Jonathan Babineaux. Jernigan is an ideal fit as a three technique, attacking the gap between the guard and tackle. Like Babineaux for the Falcons, Jernigan should be a good player for a long time because of his explosion off the line, which makes him difficult to stop once he gets going. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

19. Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri – Michael Bennett. Missouri used Ealy in a similar fashion as the Seattle Seahawks do with Bennett. Both are defensive ends on run downs, but they are then moved to defensive tackle on passing downs. Both have quick first steps and very similar body types. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

20. Dee Ford, DE, Auburn – Chris Clemons
Like Clemons, Ford is a great pass rusher with the ability to play with his hand on the ground or standing up. Ford has a fairly well-developed arsenal of pass-rush moves but will have to prove he can be a three-down player at the next level. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

21. Blake Bortles, QB, UCF – Mark Sanchez.
While Sanchez, a former Top 5 pick, is generally considered a bust, the situations of these two quarterbacks are similar as they entered the league. Questions were raised about how ready they were. Neither was an advanced pocket passers in college. Both excelled when throwing on the move. And Bortles will likely be over-drafted due to his natural talents, just as Sanchez was. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

22. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – Doug Flutie. Like Flutie, Manziel is known for making plays out of nothing despite his small stature. Unlike Flutie, Johnny Football is entering the NFL at a time where size is not as big of an issue as it was when Flutie broke into the league. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

23. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville – T.J. Ward.
While Pryor is better in coverage than he's generally given credit for, he excels in setting the tone against the run. He’s an intimidating force across the middle. Ward is similar. Both explode into tackles and are at their best when playing downhill with the ball in front of them. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

24. Odell Beckham, WR, LSU – Golden Tate
Beckham is an undersized receiver but makes up for his slight build with toughness. He’ll provide a team with difficult catches on third down and good return skills – much like Tate did for the Seahawks the last few seasons. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

25. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins is bigger – and had a stronger final year in college -- but is a very similar athlete to Lee. Both are very good running after the catch, but Lee must prove he can stay healthy and be productive consistently. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)